This finds the cheapest possible fares that are available during the time span you specify.
Only those times where those cheapest fares are applicable will be displayed, and only the
cheapest few fare types will be shown. It is unlikely these will be flexible fares.

Searching for first class fares with this feature will not limit the results to just first class so please check the fare terms.

If you need to travel at specific times, or need some flexibility in your travel time,
then please use the normal search instead. Use this search only if you can commit to
travelling at any specified time of the day.

Split Ticketing

About Split Ticketing

If you want the cheapest train ticket for your journey but can't commit to travelling at a certain time or date or you've left it till the last minute and there are just no more cheap fares for your journey, split ticketing is the answer to your problem! Even if you're booking rail tickets on the day of travel, split ticketing can save you a small fortune.

Example Split Ticketing Savings

Take a look at the savings on some popular same day return train journeys booked 7 days in advance - all at convenient times for the typical business traveller.

Journey

Outward Time

Inward Time

Fare type

Cost

Saving

Manchester - London

06.43

17.40

cheapest flexible

£185.40£254.30

£34.70£77.70

Bristol - Manchester

09.00

17:27

flexible

£63.70

£20.00

Leeds - Birmingham

09.11

17:03

flexible

£41.90

£78.30

Norwich - London

06.48

17:02

flexible

£81.10

£24.60

Bath-London

08:12

17:33

flexible

£98.80

£37.10

Birmingham- Cardiff

07:12

17:25

flexible

£57.30

£32.80

Aberdeen-Glasgow

06.33

17:19

flexible

£60.50

£9.00

York - Nottingham

06.40

17:47

flexible

£39.30

£31.30

Leeds - London

06.40

16.33

cheapest

£190.00

£34.00

What is Split Ticketing?

Split ticketing is simply where instead of having one train ticket to take you from your departure point to your destination the journey is broken down into two or more parts with a separate rail ticket for each section. For instance if you want a train from London to Manchester you might get a train ticket from London to Stoke-on-Trent and a second ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester. Britain's illogical rail fare system means that splitting your ticket by booking a train ticket to an intermediary station and then a different ticket from there to your destination often works out far cheaper than the cost of a conventional ticket.

How Does Split Ticketing Work

Split ticketing works in exactly the same way as ordinary train tickets work on the National Rail network and you are still eligible for discounts when booking train tickets with a railcard. Although you won't be able to ask for split ticketing at the ticket machine at the station, split ticketing is completely legal provided the train stops at the point where you split your fare and you don't even need to change train. Although the best savings tend to be found on rail journeys going across the country, split ticket savings are available on direct routes too and are not limited to particular train companies or specific journeys.

Alternatives to Split Ticketing

Split ticketing is incredibly useful for travellers on the go but don't forget that there are plenty of other ways to reduce the cost of your train tickets. Above all booking anything up to 12 weeks in advance can save you up to 80% on the cost of rail tickets purchased at the station on the day. You can also save by getting a railcard if you're eligible, travelling at off peak times, and comparing different routes and train operators. Why not also try out our realtime cheapest fare finder which searches over a wider time frame to find the best train fares for your journey. Just click advanced options and select 'find the cheapest fares throughout the day.'